He was too young to leave the music world when Billy Preston died yesterday. His talent has been behind lots of the most popular stars, like the Beatles and Rolling Stones. Either playing his exuberant keyboard or writing music or singing, Billy was a force shaping today's music. His "Nothing from Nothing" is a great one! I love Joe Cocker singing Billy's ballad "You Are So Beautiful" --- could there be a better love song to a woman?

Thank you Billy Preston for sharing your gifts with us. Your music will live on in the airwaves forever!

"Hold fast to your illusions --- they'll keep you young and happy."

Yesterday, like an old person that I pretend not to be, I fell down hairdo over derriere! It was such a shock to my system and I hurt so many parts, that after a young guy helped me up, I stood stunned in silence for what seemed like too long, hanging over a shopping cart. No blood. That's good ............ and I saved the face. Even better. Our family has its priorities. The palms of both hands were numb and red with the shocking blow, a child-like scraped knee, and a couple of very painful toes from bending backwards --- all screamed out for attention! With my shopping "trip" over, I hobbled back to my car, driving home to ice packs and pain killers seemed more important. An hour later I was at a meeting trying my hardest to concentrate on the program without whining.

Today I am extremely sore in more places than I care to divulge. I feel like I just began a new career as an acrobat and I missed the trapeze without a net! Or I tried to stop an elephant stampede. Oh, well, it could have been much worse and I am lucky to be in such limber shape or I would have broken multiple bones. My back could have been injured or a hip broken, but, thank you God, my bones are strong from years of exercise and play.

Today I am not in a full body cast. Today I am thankful and happy to be alive and healthy enough to enjoy another beautiful day!

Trapped beyond words
Beating against a vision of my future
Screaming for the freedom I remember
Why am I here?

Trapped in the night
No ears to hear my knocking
No tenderness to hear my pleading
Why am I here?

No escape, so I wait
For release at the dawning
The answer will come
All in good time?


This morning as I opened the garage door, I found a tiny bird trapped under the curtain of one of the windows. It was still trying to get out of that place --- that dark cage. I thought about its horrible night alone in a quiet unfamiliar place. I do not know the panic it must have felt, so I had to speak about it in human emotions, a personification, and my poem seems strangely familiar. This morning the curtain lifted and we let it go. Fly away troubles!

Our daughter Alison is getting her booth ready for the Tour d' Art Festival 2006.


Her handmade felt appliqued purses wave in the breeze! Alison has original handcrafted dolls --- friendly and spooky --- purses, collage work and photographs for sale. She sold mostly dolls and purses while we were there for the one-day festival.


She sold this doll while we were there and the small Jester Doll on the table behind her!

To read "reviews" of one of Alison's dolls she made, follow this link!

http://nicolascaesar.livejournal.com/632299.html

"Language is the apparel in which your thoughts parade before the public. Never clothe them in vulgar or shoddy attire." (Dr. George W. Crane)

Uhhh, oh. Some of us Streamers have violated Dr. Crane's rule for fine behavior. I do know one thing --- words on the internet survive forever, so they could come back one day and bite us on our individual butts! I'm sure that's what Dr. Crane was worried about when he made this suggestion.